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Reply To: What constitutes a war grave?

Home Forums Historic Aviation What constitutes a war grave? Reply To: What constitutes a war grave?

#1005946
Arabella-Cox
Keymaster

As I said, Paul, it all comes down to the wishes of the family. Whilst that has not always been the case in the past (ie they had no choice until faced with the fait accompli) it doesn’t alter the fact that cases like Dennis Copping and Eric Williams have been pursued because the family wanted the matter pursued. As David Burke said, once the P40 was found it was found, the fate of its pilot became worldwide news and the family had little choice but to address that. When they did, they were adamant; they wanted Dennis Copping’s remains searched for and found if possible. In the case of Eric Williams, the family have been adamant about the same thing since the 1980s. There are many more cases where families have sought to find out, and I have three cases at present where families have sought me out for help in solving such mysteries. So, not a case of third parties ‘reviving old wounds’ but the families themselves being proactive and seeking to find out the facts and recover family members. To some, it is hugely important and it would be wrong to ignore that.